Special Hair Styling Tips

To create a strong curl, suggests KMS' Edwin Johnston, apply a volumizer like KMS California addvolume Body Build Detangler to damp strands and dry the hair. Then mist individual sections with a heft enhancer like KMS California Sea Salt Spray, reheat the hair with a blow dryer, curl each section around a round brush, slip out the brush and replace it with a smaller Velcro roller. Wait until the hair cools completely before removing the roller.

Twist and Release
"You can't go wrong with an elegant, Breakfast at Tiffany's upsweep," declares Joico's Damien Carney, "but the key to making this look modern is to create a more casual version." Once you backcomb and secure the look, use your fingers to loosen up the hair. "It's OK if a few bits drop out," says Carney, "and who cares if a few pins are showing? You really don't want this style to look too perfect."

Uplifting Updos
Keep in mind, says Johnston, that very few people can wear their hair pulled tightly off of their faces. Most people look better with a degree of volume and softness. One of his favorite techniques when creating a chignon is to divide the head horizontally at the recession points, clip up the top and form the twist with the bottom section. Then release the top. Working in subsections, use an iron to create loose waves or curls. Lightly backcomb the undersides of each texturized section, then draw back the top strands and loosely pin them into the chignon. "The result," says Johnston, "is soft in front and clean and chic in the back."

Spread the Word
If your clients only see you cutting and coloring when they're in the salon, they may not be aware of your styling skills.Consider promoting your special occasion services with a Holiday Hair Night, suggests Johnston. Invite clients (and their friends) for consultations and demos, serve refreshments and take digital snapshots of the finished results. Then offer a discount if they book an appointment before they leave.